The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-01
AN ALCIIEMIST.

quarrel is not a very serious thing. But,
then, nothing is very serious from u
cosmic point of view; even q Franco
Prussian war is impotent to ruftie the
serene face of the cosmos, and earth
quakes and tornadoes indicate mere
passing irritability and are OF no conse-
quence. In the lofty state Of mind in
duced by such reflections, DIR. Max
Semmler was apt to neglect such trifies as
fashions ia hats and coats and neckties,
which could not be brought into any
possible relation with his science, and
when stimulated by tho criticism Of his
fiancee, Katchen Sehrader, he resolved to
conform to the whims OF his age-his
experiments ia conformity proved always
more disastrous that his unconscious
originality. That, of course, led to scenes
which were unpleasant while they lasted,
but were made up in the usual APP
proved fashion. For all that, something
remained after these quarrels which tears
and caresses failed to efface. 1t began
slowly TO dawn upon Max that some
influence was at work tending to ALLEVIATE
Katchen from him; and after having
vainly speculated upon it for a month, he
asked her, with all sorts of cautious,
lover like circumloculatiOns, what was
the matter. She shed q few preliminary
tears, which, in Max's eyes, heightened
her loveliness, and then exclaimed:
w nht Is the kOOsi Vi COaCcdlin5 IL
any longer, MAXI
Max declared that he could see no good
in 1t.
II love you, Max" she cried; ''you
know that 1 love You; but how can
marry you when you are such fail
urey My father insists upon it that
must break my engagement with you and
marry Mr.. Harbitsch, the broker. That's
what makes me cry, for / cannot live
wit hnr1r vfr IN ScnlI Max. and vet what
can / do, when papa and mamma both
throw it at me from morning till night
that you can make no money-that you
are "a failure"
..Failurer' cried Max, jumping up and
rubbing his spsctacles with his handker-
chief. Il a failure, 1, who have taken
the great university medal in chemistry
and am now II tutor, with sure promise
of u professorship,'
YES, but what il a professorship after
all9 Six or eight hundred dollars a year,
with the prospect of 81 900 when you are
too old to enjoy it. Mr.. Harbitsch often
makes that in day, or even more"
YES, bat how does he make it, BY
gambling and cheating. l have heard
that his reputation on the bourse is very
bad III wanted to cheat / could also
get rich, and in a shorter time than Har-
bitsch.n
well, could you now? My father says
that you scientific men are mere night
caps, who sit in your studies and medi-
tate, but cannot turn your knowledge to
any practical account.
DIR. Scrnmlcr began to pace the floor
angrily. buttoning and again unbuttoning
his coat as he went on. Suddenly he
stopped before his astonished fiancee.
''katchen," he said, seriously, what is
81 900 more or less to a man who stands
face to face with the indnities.
II do not know what it Is to q man,
but to a woman who stands face to face
with the ininities it is II good deal. She
can get no eud of things with it,"
All, my child" exclaimed Max, i'm
despair, what are things? Nothing at
ALL. We are ourselves nothing at all. We
produce scarcely ripple upon the stream
of time Consider the immensely of the
time that has preceded US, the immensely
of the time that will succeed us, and the
immensely of the space that surrounds us;
the innunerable myriads and myriads of
our kind that nature has poured forth, Is
pouring forth, and shall pour forth to all
eternity; what, then, are you and l in this
torrent of teeming, whirling, seething, in
exhaustible life' What occupation is
nobler and more dignified to q man, con.
scious of his place in this cosmic life, than
TO contemplate natures grandeur, tc
investigate her serene and pitiless pro-
and listen To her mighty heart beat, What
is the occupation Of a paltry, purblind.
money changer compared to the calm and
lofty seership of n priest in the temple OF
science who contentedly burns out the
Pickering lamp of his being in the service
of the great mother who made him.
That is beautiful. That is grand, in
deed" calculated Katchen, much inn
pressed by her lovers eloquence. She
put her arms about his neck and wept for
u while contentedly upon his bosom
You are great man, indeed, Max"
she went ON, sobbing; II shall never say
again that you are a failure. But" she
added, hesitatingly, gazing up at him
with an adorable, fearful smile, IF you
only could make little money-not ON
my account, yon know, but on fathers"
Max tore himself away from her and
legan once more 20 pace the floor.
But you would not have me q mere
miserable money making Philistine, who
deserts science and invents baking pow
ders and shoe backing" he dried, indig-
nantly.
Yes, yes. would" she responded en-
Enthusiastically. DO invent something; |
shoe backing, for instance, warranted not |
10 crack the leather because that's just |
what | am in need of-Semmler's Shoe |
Shine, :. :. =. in all the newspapers and |
an the street corners. Motto: n child |
can blacken itself with this blackingr'
She laughed with delight at her idea |
and chung once more caressingly about his |
neck.
But | should he q very unhappy man |
IL deserted science and engaged perma- |
nentiy in any such pursuit" he demon
strated, er,tyely
We'll. then, desert science TEMPORARY |
ly; but only do make some money" she |
cuaxed
lie stood long pondering. and tremu |
lous shiyer passed through his frame.
How lonis will YOU wait for me.' he |
asked. with u stern resolution in his face. |
oh. ! could wait forever" he an |
swered tenderiy: but let us say "a year." |
she went ON ~ the worldly reflections be- |
gan to predominant.
We'll, then, year.
But tell me, she urged. as he ap- |
preached the door. what do you mean TO |
try,''
An experiment In profitable transgres-
sion -
The renowned millionaire, Leander |
Hardness, sat in his Office in San Fran |
c.sco wrisin2 dispatches IL his brokers in |
New York and Chicago, when a note wa5 |
handed to bun b! messenger.
''Dear STR" he read 81 approach you
with some hesitation, knowing perfectly |
the objection which you Will naturally
have TO entertaining the proposition am
about To make 10 yog- I have no guaran-
tee to offer you that | approach you in
good faith, except the fact that can in
no way be benefited by the experiment
which propose to make, unless il Is abso-
lutely what il pretends To be- have
made n great discovery, which will di-
yulge to you on certain conditions, if you
will grant me an interview of not less than
half an hour. Yours respectfully,
''HEISRICH WACHTNEIsrER"